Deconjugation of soy isoflavone glucuronides needed for estrogenic activity

Soy isoflavones (SIF) are present in the systemic circulation as conjugated forms of which the estrogenic potency is not yet clear. The present study provides evidence that the major SIF glucuronide metabolites in blood, genistein-7-O-glucuronide (GG) and daidzein-7-O-glucuronide (DG), only become estrogenic after deconjugation. The estrogenic potencies of genistein (Ge), daidzein (Da), GG and DG were determined using stably transfected U2OS-ERα, U2OS-ERβ reporter gene cells and proliferation was tested in T47D-ERβ cells mimicking the ERα/ERβ ratio of healthy breast cells and inT47D breast cancer cells. In all assays applied, the estrogenic potency of the aglycones was significantly higher than that of their corresponding glucuronides. UPLC analysis revealed that in U2OS and T47D cells, 0.2-1.6% of the glucuronides were deconjugated to their corresponding aglycones. The resulting aglycone concentrations can account for the estrogenicity observed upon glucuronide exposure. Interestingly, under similar experimental conditions, rat breast tissue S9 fraction was about 30 times more potent in deconjugating these glucuronides than human breast tissue S9 fraction. Our study confirms that SIF glucuronides are not estrogenic as such, and that the small % of deconjugation in the cell is enough to explain the slight bioactivity observed for the SIF-glucuronides. Species differences in deconjugation capacity should be taken into account when basing risk-benefit assessment of these SIF for the human population on animal data.

Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene polymorphisms in chronic idiopathic urticaria

BACKGROUND

This study was performed to evaluate association of gene polymorphisms among proinflammatory cytokines and susceptibility to chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU).

METHODS

Ninety patients with prolonged urticaria more than 6 weeks were included as case group. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-6 (G/C -174, G/A nt565) and TNF-α (G/A -308, G/A -238) were evaluated, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR); and the results were compared to the control group.

RESULTS

G allele was significantly higher in the patients at locus of -238 of promoter of TNF-α gene (p<0.001). Frequency of following genotypes were significantly lower in patients with CIU, compared to controls: AG at -308 and GA at -238 of TNF-α gene (p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively), CG at -174 and GG at +565 of IL-6 gene (p<0.05). Additionally, following genotypes were more common among patients with CIU: GG at -308 and -238 of TNF-α gene (p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively), GG at -174 and GA at +565 of IL-6 gene (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Pro-inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms can affect susceptibility to CIU. TNF-α promoter polymorphisms as well as IL-6 gene polymorphisms are associated with CIU.

AICDA single nucleotide polymorphism in common variable immunodeficiency and selective IgA deficiency

BACKGROUND

Primary antibody deficiencies (PADs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders, characterised by increased susceptibility to recurrent bacterial infections. Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most important PAD from the clinical point of view and selective IgA deficiency (IgAD) is the most common PAD. However, the underlying gene defect in both is still unknown. As a recent study in Europe showed an association between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of AICDA gene with PADs, this study was performed to evaluate such an association in Iranian patients.

METHODS

Fifty-eight patients with PAD, including 39 CVID and 19 IgAD, as well as 34 healthy volunteers, were enrolled in this study. Genotyping was done in all groups for an intronic SNP in AICDA (rs2580874), using real-time PCR genotyping assay.

RESULTS

The less frequent genotype of AICDA in IgAD patients was AA, seen in 10.5% of the patients, which was much lower than the 30.8% in CVID patients and 38.2% in the controls. However, these differences were not significant. Indeed the GG genotype in the patients with PADs was seen in 20.7%, compared to 8.8% in the controls without any significant difference.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no significant association between the previously reported genetic variant of AICDA gene and the development of CVID or IgAD, but further multi-center studies are also needed.

IMPROVEMENT IN PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF IIR/CR RUBBER BLEND ORGANOCLAY NANOCOMPOSITES

The effects of organoclay loading and chloroprene rubber (CR) concentration on the cure characteristics, microstructure, and mechanical and rheological properties of isobutylene–isoprene rubber (IIR)/CR blend were investigated. Different compositions of CR (10, 20, and 40 wt%) with Cloisite15A as organo modified nanoclay (1, 3, 5, and 7 wt%) were used for blends by a two-roll mill. Samples were vulcanized at 175 °C using a hot press. The cure and scorch times and also the maximum torque of the composites increased with the incorporation of organoclay. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus (100%, 200%, and 300%), and resilience improved with increasing nanoclay loading. The structure of the nanocomposites was characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD results of nanocomposites indicated that the intercalation of polymer chains into the clay gallery was deduced from increasing the interlayer distance of silicate layers. TEM and SEM also directly confirmed XRD results.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis: relationships between oxidative stress, liver and kidney variables, trace elements, and clinical status

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of oxidative stress in the pathology of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). We therefore studied the relationships between oxidative stress markers, liver and kidney variables, trace elements, and clinical status in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum. Two groups of Leishmania-infected dogs [asymptomatic (AD, n = 14) and symptomatic (SD, n = 16)] were assessed and compared with a group of non-infected control dogs (CD, n = 30). A significant decrease (p < 0.001) in serum total antioxidant status (TAS) and albumin concentration (p < 0.05) and a significant increase in serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations (p < 0.001), in the SD group, were observed when compared to CD and AD groups. Dogs of the AD group presented a significant decrease in copper (p < 0.01) and zinc (p < 0.001) concentrations, when compared to CD group, while the SD group presented a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in copper and zinc concentrations, when compared to CD and AD groups. Oxidative stress markers (MDA and TAS) showed significant correlations (p < 0.001) with trace elements (copper and zinc) and liver (alanine aminotransferase) and kidney (BUN and creatinine) variables. The results of the present study revealed that symptomatic dogs showed more severe oxidative stress than asymptomatic and non-infected dogs and enhanced lipid peroxidation may be linked to liver and kidney damage in canine visceral leishmaniasis.

Percutaneous transhepatic venous angioplasty and stenting in a 9-month-old patient with hepatic vein obstruction after partial liver transplantation

Hepatic venous outflow obstruction is a rare but serious complication after liver transplantation. We report ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic stent placement in a 9-month-old infant with a left lateral split liver transplantation with near-complete hepatic vein obstruction.

Solubility prediction of drugs in water-cosolvent mixtures using Abraham solvation parameters

PURPOSE

To provide predictive cosolvency models, the Abraham solvation parameters of solutes and the solvent coefficients were combined with the Jouyban-Acree and the log-linear models. These models require two and one solubility data points to predict the solubility of drugs in water-cosolvent mixtures. Ab initio prediction methods also were employed and the results were discussed.

METHOD

The Jouyban-Acree model constants were correlated with variables derived from the Abraham solvation parameters of solutes and the solvent coefficients to present quantitative structure property relationship (QSPR) models. The calculated model constants using the QSPR models were used to predict the solubility in water-cosolvent mixtures. The mean percentage deviation (MPD), average absolute error (AAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) criteria were calculated to show the accuracy of the predictions.

RESULTS

The overall MPD (+/-SD) of the proposed method employing solubility data in mono-solvents, i.e. two data points for each set, was 18.5+/-12.0 which indicates an acceptable prediction error from the practical point of view. The best cosolvency model employing aqueous solubility data was produced overall MPD of 75.2+/-72.6. The overall MPD of the proposed ab initio method was 74.9+/-19.3%. The models produced the same accuracy pattern considering MPD, AAE and RMSE criteria.

CONCLUSION

The proposed model employing two solubility data points for each set produced acceptable prediction error (>>18%) and could be recommended for practical applications in pharmaceutical industry. MPD, AAE and RMSE criteria produced similar results considering various models. However, MPD criterion was preferred since its numerical values could be compared with experimental relative standard deviations for repeated experiments.

Keratinocyte growth factor ameliorates mucosal injury in an experimental model of colitis in rats

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is known to enhance tissue repair in the skin; however, its role in the gastrointestinal tract is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of exogenous KGF in an experimental model of colitis in rats.

METHODS

KGF was administered before or after induction of colitis with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid/ethanol. In the first two study groups, KGF (5 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 24 hours and 1 hour before induction of colitis; animals were killed 8 hours (n=10) and 1 week (n=10) after injury. In subsequent study groups, KGF or vehicle treatment was begun 24 hours after the induction of colitis at doses of 5 (n=20), 1 (n=10), and 0.1 (n=10) mg/kg intraperitoneally and continued once daily for 1 week. Colonic tissue samples were evaluated macroscopically and microscopically for mucosal injury and assayed for myeloperoxidase activity.

RESULTS

Administration of KGF after but not before induction of colitis significantly ameliorated tissue damage. Macroscopic necrosis and microscopic ulcerations were reduced by 40%-50% at KGF doses of 1 and 5 mg/kg.

CONCLUSIONS

Exogenous KGF has a key role in mucosal healing in an experimental model of colitis in rats.